Wi-Fi Hot Spots In Cuenca Ecuador, July 2010 Edition

This represents the most updated list of working wireless hot spots in Cuenca, Ecuador. I put out a list of wireless Internet connection points in Cuenca in January and there are still good comments there, but I had missed a couple and there are a few that have changed their status.

• Bar Inca: You need a password to log in here, but they'll happily give it to you. Outlet is at the bar, although if you ask nicely you can also get a power strip from the back office to work on the couches. Opens at 9(ish) most days, closed Mondays, good food. 3 de Noviembre, along the river.
  
  
• Cafe Austria: Medium speed wireless. Not functional. They've changed the password from this spring, and I can't get the network to hold a connection. I am not alone in this, and Mac vs. PC doesn't appear to make a difference. Still, chocolate frogs on offer and the staff doesn't mind if you work there for hours. Benigno Malo y Juan Jaramillo.
  

• Cafe Eucalyptus: Plug in at the bar if the wi-fi is not working, which it usually isn't. Only one person can be plugged in at the bar at a time. Evening events like salsa shows make this best for daytime use. Gran Columbia 9 - 41.
  
  
• Cafecito: No password, high speed wireless. Also a youth hostel but you don't have to stay there to park in the cafe zone and use the Internet connection. Three prong plug behind the plant in the upper right corner as you arrive, round and two prong plug next to the cake display on the left.
  
  
• California Kitchen: High speed wireless connection (Casa Sangurima) takes a password you can get from the staff. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Only place in Cuenca for biscuits and gravy, and the broccoli salad is also really good. Plug ins are on the left wall. Presidente Borerro y Gaspar Sangurima.
  
  
• La Esquina de las Artes: The connection point here is in the courtyard by the shops, but you can also pick up some signal inside the ice cream shop. Next to the University of Cuenca, easy walk/cab from downtown.
  
  
• Mall del Rio: Connection is strongest in the food court, limited places to plug in. Some can and some can't connect - doesn't seem to be a pattern here.
  
  
• Millenium Plaza: Connection is strongest on the far side of the mall away from the Kentucky Fried Chicken. There's a small table with power outlets. Expect to share with a teenage gamer or two.
  
  
• Mosca: Coffee shop with wi-fi and one of the only wireless Internet connections I know of in this part of Cuenca. Near the SuKasa in the Excalibur building, 22-400 Gran Columbia.
  

• Parque Calderon: Etapatelecom operates a wi-fi hot spot in front of the tourist office. Slow {like molasses in January slow}. Remember you also have to log on for this one - the system is set up to take you to the log in screen, where it provides you with the user name and password you need. Allegedly you can hold this connection throughout the downtown, which is useful in a limited sense for iPhone and smart phone users.

Cuenca roamers, let me know how these work out for you and I'll try to keep the list updated!

No, I Am Not Writing A Travel Guide To Cuenca

I was working at the Kookaburra Cafe in Cuenca today, using my mobile Internet plug (I'm on rations--40 MB of bandwidth a day. It's criminal). A girl from California popped her head in asking about the wi-fi, which is one of the things NOT offered at the awesome Kookaburra Cafe.

I volunteered to let her look up something quick on my computer, because I have a lot of sympathy for disconnected souls. I know that pain. Anyway, she wanted to sit for a while with some wireless, so I whipped out a piece of paper and gave her my list of places to go for free wi-fi in Cuenca and some commentary on their service levels, food, and ambiance.

Pow-pow, I powered that thing out in less than 2 minutes. I mean, those places are my homes away from home, basically. I know the waitstaff by name, it's that sad. So her jaw drops and she's like, "Are you writing a travel guide to Cuenca or something?"

Yeah . . .no. I may write articles about life in Cuenca, and the existing travel guides are in desperate need of updating, but that's one project I will take a pass on, thanks.

Still . . . it's nice to be a resource! Guidebooks on Cuenca are really crappy about the stuff visiting gringos really care about like wireless Internet points, laundry services, and accurate information on safe zones/danger zones in the city.

Wi-Fi Hotspots in Cuenca Ecuador

Most of the wireless hot spots in Cuenca are concentrated in the downtown area. This list of Cuenca's wi-fi hot spots is something I'll revisit as I find more locations:

• Cafe Austria: Medium speed wireless. Open 7 days a week, but not until after 9 am. Only one power outlet, near the emergency exit, which is always ajar so you may get a bit of a draft/chill on cooler days if you need to plug in.

• Parque Calderon: Etapatelecom operates a wi-fi hot spot in front of the tourist office. Slow. Also, in attempting to work here, was repeatedly interrupted and told the areas was a dangerous one in which to have valuables, especially computers. Ridiculous PITA to work here, consider it an emergency usage point.

• Cafe Eucalyptus: More food options than Cafe Austria's limited menu, but also more limited opening hours. Weekends not open before 5 pm, although it is open until 2 am Friday and Saturday.

• Bar Inca: Drinks, view over the river, and football (American college & NFL) in season.

More to come as they are found!

Internet Connections In Cuenca Ecuador

After several days of fighting with the Porta system, I have come to terms with a rationed Internet life here in Cuenca. Apparently my unlimited wireless did indeed have bandwidth limits, which I exceeded in about five days. Oops.

I learned this after braving the Porta customer service office in Cuenca, where I learned many things about my Internet account, and my Spanish. Basically, both are not nearly as good as I want them to be at the moment! I did manage to temporarily top up my Internet account, but plowed through that almost immediately trying to catch up.

Basically, in Cuenca there are several different ways to have Internet. Cable Internet solutions are only available in some parts of the city, so most home users have a kinds of USB modem/dial up system. Etapatelecom and Porta both provide services. In talking with longtime residents, costs are upwards of $60/month for what would be generally considered an acceptable connection comparable to what you might have in the US.

There are also pre-paid plan options, which entitle you to 100 MB of up/down Internet per 24 hour period. I'm looking into these, as my regular monthly plan through as arranged by my landlord doesn't renew until the 8th of the month, and I need the Internet for work! It is about $3 for these plans, but I am not sure where to buy the cards, as some of the Porta stops I visited only deal with phones. A Monday adventure, for sure.